Abstract
Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of normal elderly participants and patients with Alzheimer's disease to copy the Necker cube. Method: One hundred and seventy elderly participants were randomly selected from the town of Tajiri, northern Japan, and were classified into three groups based on the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR): CDR 0, healthy; CDR 0.5, questionable dementia; and CDR 1 and 2, mild and moderate dementia. Dementia patients (CDR 1 and 2) met the criteria of probable AD of the NINCDS-ADRDA. Using eight original criteria, we examined their ability to copy the Necker cube. Results: Most CDR 0 participants could at least succeed in copying a simple cube. About a half of the AD patients could not draw a three-dimensional figure. Among the CDR 0.5 participants, we found a 'two-peak' distribution. Conclusion: Copying the Necker cube may be one useful task for the detection of very mild Alzheimer's disease.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 4-9 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Psychogeriatrics |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2006 Mar |
Keywords
- Alzheimer's disease
- CDR
- Copying ability
- Necker cube
- Normal aging
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Gerontology
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Psychiatry and Mental health